Darron Patterson was the first African American sportswriter at the Mobile Press Register, and is a three-time Alabama Press Association award winner for “Best Story of the Year.”
He later worked for The Detroit News, covering the National Football League’s Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons of the NBA, Detroit Tigers baseball team and the Detroit Red Wings hockey club.
He was also the first African American to cover NASCAR and Indy Car racing circuits for a major daily newspaper, and later spent three years as Director of Communications for the City of Detroit’s Resource Management System.
The Africatown native also serves on the board of directors of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, is co-leader of the men’s ministry at Mt. Hebron Church Ministries, is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, a graduate of the University of Texas-at El Paso and is president of the slave-ship Clotilda Descendants Association.
He is married to the former Sandy Grimes.
June 4, 2020–Dr. Eric Mackey / State Superintendent of Education "The Future of Alabama's Education During the Coronavirus Pandemic" via Zoom
Dr. Eric G. Mackey currently serves as the State Superintendent of Education. Prior to serving as State Superintendent of Education, he served as the Executive Director of the School Superintendents of Alabama, superintendent of Jacksonville City School System, assistant principal, and principal. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University and Master’s, Education Specialist, and Doctoral degrees from The University of Alabama.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mackey has been an advocate for increased rigor and advanced high school courses as well as challenging elementary and middle school courses that prepare students for high school. He believes schools must transform from an industrial model to one more attuned to the information age. A model that is both challenging and highly interesting for students.
Dr. Mackey is also engaged in his community. Among his many civic commitments, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Tukabatchee Area Council, BSA. He is president of the Montgomery Rotary Club and teaches high school youth at Woodland United Methodist Church.
He and his wife, Robin, have three sons.
May 28, 2020–Jo Bonner / Chief of Staff, Governor's Office via Zoom
May 21, 2020–Casi Callaway via Zoom
May 14, 2020–Dr. Bert Eichold & Dr. Laura Cepeda via Zoom
May 7, 2020–Mayor Sandy Stimpson via Zoom
April 2, 2020–David Trent / Site Director – Airbus
March 26, 2020–NO MEETING
March 19, 2020–Andy Newton / President – Uniti Fiber
Andy Newton is President of Uniti Fiber where he stewards Uniti’s efforts to design, build and operate its fiber network infrastructure. Newton was the co-founder of Southern Light, and for the previous 19 years served as its President and CEO where he led the overall operations, strategic guidance and culture of the company. Under his direction, Southern Light grew to become one of the top 10 largest pure fiber optic providers in the country. Newton received an Economics degree from Birmingham Southern College and enjoys providing leadership to non-profits that focus on education and community planning and development.
March 12, 2020–Judge Edmond Naman / NEST
EDUCATION: Graduate of UMS Preparatory School; graduate of University of South Alabama BA: English, Biology, BA: Philosophy, and graduate of Jones School of Law.
PRACTICE OF LAW: Admitted to practice law before all trial and appellate courts in the State of Alabama. Served as Assistant District Attorney for Mobile County from 1995-2007. Professional positions include: Special Prosecutor in charge of gun and violent crime; Special Prosecutor Mobile County Drug Court Program, Legal Instructor for police departments across Mobile County, District Attorney’s Early Warning Truancy Program, Mobile County Corrections Victim Impact Panel, Mobile County Public School teachers; and for the “Make the Right Choice” Program.
CIVIC SERVICE: Mobile Mayor’s Task force on Youth and Substance Abuse; instructor for Archdiocese of Mobile Child Protection Program; Chairman of Helping Families Initiative for at risk youth, Board Member Mobile County Domestic Violence Task Force; Advisor for Boy Scout Legal Explorer Post; Youth Mentor for Volunteer Mobile; American Diabetes Association; Chairman, 2004 & 2005 Catholic Charities Appeal, St. Mary’s Parish Knights of Columbus; St. Mary’s Parish Youth Commission, and Basketball Coach, CYO.
PRESENT MEMBER: Mobile Bar Association; Alabama Bar Association; American Bar Association, Paul W. Brock Inns Of Court Legal Society, Alabama Circuit Judges Association, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Mobile United, St. Mary Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus, Past Member National College of District Attorneys, Past Member Alabama District Attorneys Association.